Attorney honorees (l-r): Honigman attorney Matthew Keuten, on behalf of the Health Care Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan; Dante Stella, on behalf of Dykema Gossett; Leo Goddeyne of Miller Canfield, Exemplary Pro Bono Service; and Glen Zatz of Bodman, Exemplary Board Service.
Photo courtesy of MCR
Michigan Community Resources (MCR) presented awards to those who provided vital pro bono legal services in 2019. The awards took place at MCR’s Homecoming and Annual Celebration on Dec. 12. Awards were presented to the Dykema law firm; attorney Leo Goddeyne of Miller Canfield; the Health Care Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan; and Glen Zatz of Bodman PLC.
Goddeyne of Miller Canfield’s Kalamazoo office accepted an award for exemplary pro bono service. Goddeyne has guided many nonprofits across the state in building strong foundations. In 2019, in his work with MCR, Goddeyne assisted organizations in various ways and provided guidance to newer lawyers in nonprofit practice, enhancing pro bono service throughout the Michigan Bar.
The Dykema firm has continually helped MCR from co-hosting a clinic with General Motors, to sending representatives to speaking engagements and clinics, taking on numerous legal matters and seeing them through to completion, and joining one of MCR’s client's board of directors. Attorney Dante Stella accepted the award on the firm’s behalf.
An award for the Health Care Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan was accepted by Matthew Keuten, outgoing chair of the section’s Pro Bono Committee. The section was the partner for MCR’s first annual Healthy Nonprofit workshop in 2019. Volunteer attorneys from the section represent firms throughout the state. The section shared expertise and time in developing a workshop to support MCR’s nonprofit clients.
Glen Zatz of Bodman PLC was recognized for exemplary service to the MCR Board of Directors. Zatz has served MCR since its inception 21 years ago and is the second longest serving member of the board.
Michigan Community Resources provides a comprehensive array of consulting and organizational capacity building services for nonprofit and community organizations in Southeast Michigan, with distinct services available statewide. Since its founding in 1998, MCR has provided more than $16 million in free legal assistance to more than 1,200 nonprofits throughout Michigan. Each year, MCR serves 400 nonprofit organizations.
Attorney support for MCR’s mission comes through legal program grants and the Access to Justice Fund administered by the Michigan State Bar Foundation (www.atjfund.org).
